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Browse every published article connected to Pat Mussieux, with exact attribution and full-archive search.
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Browse every published article connected to Pat Mussieux, or search within this exact expert archive.
I hear so many women entrepreneurs telling me that they hate sales – they find it sleazy, distasteful and uncomfortable for them. They just want to ‘do their passion’ and fulfill their purpose. Huh? What’s that all about? Why in the world do so many women entrepreneurs feel so very uncomfortable when it comes to sales? I don’t get it.
I’m sure you’ve heard the commercial: “What’s in your wallet?” My question to you, today, is what’s on your bookshelf? I love to read and I have many, many books. In fact, my promise to myself this year was to actually read each of the books I do have before buying any new ones. “Reading strengthens our sense of what it means to be human.” – Oprah
I have had a crazy, busy, happy few weeks in my business lately – and I’m still on a roll. What I find most interesting is listening to conversations of other entrepreneurs who are saying they are ‘slowing down/shutting down/ for the summer, or parts of it. Really? I know that can be seen as one of the benefits of being an entrepreneur – setting your own schedule! There are lots of perceptions and beliefs about ‘the life of an entrepreneur’ – let’s examine some of those and see how it sits with you.
The tragedy in Haiti has many of us thinking, once again, about how precious life is – each and every day. As I write this article, on Monday, rescuers are still finding survivors of this horrible event. These people have a strong will to live! What about you? Are you going through life, taking things and people for granted? If tragedy struck today, who would you call and what would you say?
While sitting in church on Sunday, our pastor was talking about the feeling of being overwhelmed. One of his statements was 'never worry alone'. That really jumped out at me, for a number of reasons. "Worry is negative goal-setting" says my mentor, Lou Tice. Think about that for a minute – it makes a lot of sense. Most of the things we worry about never come about, anyway.
Do you ever have days when you feel like you just won’t make it? I can remember waking up some mornings, thinking – wondering – pondering – WHEN will IT ever happen? Success, that is. As a woman in business, do you ever feel overwhelmed, with the sense you’ve got to do it all yourself? Well, then you are just one of many. Seriously. You are not alone.
This week, we celebrated International Woman's Day – not something I take lightly. I honor, respect and celebrate the women who have 'walked before me' – without whom I would not be living this life of freedom and opportunity. This past weekend, I spoke at the Amazing Woman's Day event in Toronto – the Canadian launch of this international initiative. Wow! Words cannot describe the experience.
A quick nod of heads – how many of you are working Moms? How many of you feel overwhelmed, unsupported, misunderstood, exhausted and discouraged? And, simultaneously, as you work in your own business, how many of you feel elated, passionate, ‘on purpose’, celebrated, validated and rich? I want to salute you! I really do! In North America, on the second Sunday of May, we celebrate Moms.
Do you have ANY idea how much money is sitting right in front of you – right under your nose?" What I am talking about is communicating and connecting with your current clients. "The big shots are only the little shots who keep shooting". - Christopher Morley There are a few basic, and consistent, things I recommend when working with my new clients who want to build their business. One of the very first things I have them do is to review their current client list. Then, put the clients into 3 different categories:
I watch so many women entrepreneurs pinching pennies, day in and day out – month in and month out – as they struggle to grow their business. I also see them spending money on things and events that do not contribute to the growth of their business. Typically, it is because they don’t have a strategy (let alone a real business plan).
Here in Canada, we just celebrated our Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving is a special time for me, personally. It's a time of reflection and, often, for me, a time of change. I love the change of seasons, the magical colors of the trees, the crisp Mac apples (my favorite!), walking through the leaves - and just taking the time to think about my life. What about you? When did you last take any time to think about your life? Your work? Your business? Your family? Your dreams? I will tell you when this will actually happen, for most people.
I see many entrepreneurs overlook a critical tool when it comes to growing their business – client testimonials. When I work with women entrepreneurs, in particular, they are often hesitant to ask for this information. Think back to when you were making a buying decision! It’s just human nature to want to see and hear testimonials from happy and satisfied customers. Testimonials are an absolute essential tool for your business success.
"I really admire those Olympic athletes, but I could never do anything like that!" These are some of the comments I've heard over the past few weeks from people with whom I have been discussing the Olympic games. Typically, you would not find me in front of a TV for hours, let alone watching sports. No way! However, it was with a great sense of pride, and interest, that I did watch a lot of the games on TV.
I hear from so many women entrepreneurs who are frustrated and dissatisfied with where their lives (and their business) are going. From past experience, I know that this stems from the fact they are not clear on their life purpose. I am currently studying from the book, “The Purpose Driven Life – What on Earth Am I here for?” – by Rick Warren. It’s a simple study in that it is a paperback book, with only 319 pages, great discussion questions, solid content in the Appendices – and laid out in a way that you only focus on one chapter (4 pages, typically) each day.
Life can really suck some days. Have you ever felt that way? Is today the day? I have had my fair share of technological challenges these past few months and I decided to keep notes on just how well (or not!) I was coping with the situation. There are many times, both in business and in life, when we are tempted to just throw up our hands and give in – to surrender! Life, for me, has generally been really great. When it comes to technology, though, that’s foreign ground for me.
The #1 fear in life is public speaking – even before death! We are more afraid of public speaking than dying – can you believe that? I believe it is all about perspective. We all know how to talk and most of us are passionate about something. For those of us in business, ideally we are living our purpose and really believe that we can make a difference.
As women entrepreneurs, I know that we give our 'all' to our business! I do that – and I know I'm not alone. When I was going through my separation and divorce (and the many other 'life challenges' that happened at the same time), I was so fortunate to have one of the best doctors ever. Her advice to me, at the time, was very simple: eat properly, exercise – even just a little bit, and get some sleep.
When I was growing up, we weren’t really taught how to manage money – let alone how to think about money. I knew that my parents were not ‘rich’ by any means, as my father was in the military and my Mom was a stay-at-home mother with 7 children under foot. I did know, and learn from them, that cash was king – and that was pretty much the practice in those days. I had no exposure, however, to the world of business or entrepreneurship. Much like Robert Kiyosaki talks about in “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” – there were certain beliefs about money to which I was exposed at a very young age.
I have a few questions for you to consider. Do you have the potential to be a nicer person? Do you have the potential to have more fun in your life? Do you have the potential to make more money? Do you have the potential to grow your business? Do you have the potential to have more time off this summer to enjoy all that life has to offer? Do you have the potential to get out of the rut you're in? The answer, for each of us, is Yes! If that's the case, then what's holding you back?
It is heart-breaking to me when I see so many entrepreneurs with all the elements for success – yet, they allow some people around them to hold them back. "It's a lot easier to move forward, and succeed, when you don't have someone hanging on to your shirt-tail!" – Lou Tice Think about what your business would be like if, in fact, you were only surrounded by positive, caring, loving, supportive people! It takes a lot of energy and stamina to run your own business – to live a happy, productive life. So why are YOU holding YOU back? Let's examine.
I was in San Francisco for a week of meetings with my business coach and master mind group. We were all given an assignment - and were told to come prepared to present to the whole group. I had a different task in that I am working on a new strategy/presentation style when it comes to public speaking and sales.
I’m sure you’ve heard the question many times and perhaps you are still pondering the answer! I am often asked by women “how do I figure out my purpose?” Is there a process? Is there a formula? Am I supposed to just know what ’it’ is? And how can I make money at it? “Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and is important, in some respect, whether he chooses to be or not.” – Nathanial Hawthorne, 1804-1864
I know that, for many people, the number one fear in life is supposedly public speaking! In my opinion, right 'up there’ on the list, is the fear of failure! I hear this all the time and it drives me crazy. "Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t waste energy trying to cover up failure. Learn from your failures and go on to the next challenge. IT’S OK TO FAIL! If you’re not failing, you’re not growing." – H. Stanley Judd
As a coach and speaker, there is one question that I hear all the time – “how do YOU close the sale?” There appears to be some mystery around the actual sales language that ‘brings it all to a close’. For those of you who know me and my style, you know I like to keep things simple. In this article, I will address my 2 secret strategies for closing the sale.
As an entrepreneur, do you ever feel distracted at times? It can be those bright, shiny objects that get in the way of staying focused on activities that bring results that create wealth. Can you relate?
I heard Fitness Guru, Bob Greene, ask Oprah that question one day (a few years ago). I stopped to think about how I would answer the question. At the time, I didn't have an answer! That made me feel very sad and I vowed, in that moment, that I would make some changes and begin to add, and feel, more joy. Last art, we spoke about the value, and benefits, in writing down your goals. I know, for a fact, that many people resist that habit, for whatever reason. Well, there are other ways of 'writing down your goals'; one of which is to create a Vision Board.
Would you like to have more cash flow right about now? Many of the women entrepreneurs with whom I have been speaking, over the past few weeks, are feeling a quiet sense of desperation when it comes to cash flow. How do I know for sure and how do I recognize that? I’ve been there! There are so many reasons why, in the summer months, women entrepreneurs struggle to make money and grow their business – core beliefs (nobody does business in July!), lack of commitment, no focus, being the ‘lone ranger’, to the absolute basics in that they don’t have a plan.
There’s an expression that I’ve heard over and over again – “If you didn’t know how old you were, then how old do you think you’d be?” More and more baby boomers are leaving the corporate world and starting their own businesses – only to come up against the mindset that perhaps they are too old to start up a business. This mindset not only exists in the ‘outside world’ but is even stronger inside our own heads!
Are you going through life feeling stressed and pressured for time? Are you really happy with the choices you have been making with respect to how you spend your time, where you spend your time and with whom? There really are only 2 "have-to's" in life: You have to die and you have to take up space while you're on this earth. Everything else is a 'want-to, choose-to' option. Everything is a choice; however, you must be prepared to accept the consequences of your choices.
There is no passion to be found... in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. ~ Nelson Mandela I was just on a phone call with a very close friend and we were discussing the content of my articles over the past few months. The title of this article is actually one of the statements she made in the course of our conversation.
When you hear that statement, whose name comes to mind? It’s a famous “Donald-Trump-ism” and I use it a lot! I was listening, with great interest, last week (while at the incredible Trump International Beach Resort in Miami) to the words and descriptions that people were using when speaking about Donald Trump.
Did you know that less than 80% of sales leads from trade shows get any follow-up action? 80%!!!! Trade shows and conferences are happening all the time – they are an ideal way to get out there and meet people – YOUR people. What is it about doing follow-up that has entrepreneurs frozen in their tracks? Based on the work I do with my coaching clients, I know that many of you just don’t know what you don’t know. I, personally, love doing follow-up so the purpose of this article is to give you a few of my success tips. They work for me and they can work for you too.
Do you really believe that ‘old saying’ that public speaking is the no. 1 fear in life? Is that what is holding you back in your business – the fear of speaking in front of people? Well, you need to get over that – and quickly! Public speaking is the BEST way to get out there, tell your story and help to make a difference in the world. Not sure where or how to begin? Here are a few tips for you.
I have been on the 'speaking circuit' a fair bit over the past few weeks and have met hundreds of really special people. I am grateful for the invitations to share my information as I know that it really does make a difference in the lives of these people. However, sometimes I hear comments such as: 1. I know 'this stuff'. 2. This is all common sense. 3. That's nothing new. 4. So what? Who Cares? (Those comments, along with all the positive feedback that I get - of course!) Those are the statements that really speak to my heart.
I developed a mini-project for myself this past week and that was to listen carefully to what people were saying. It was interesting to me that a theme developed – and it was one of regret. Now, the other interesting 'coincidence' (and I don't believe there is such a thing) is that, at church on Sunday, that was the topic for the sermon. It was part of a series titled, "God has an App for that!" Gave me goose-bumps! Then, later that day at home, while I was making soup and listening to "Jukebox Oldies", an Engelbert Humperdink song came on….."How could you leave without regret?
Did you think that having your own business would be a ‘cake walk’? Do you find yourself making comparisons to others in business and wondering why you aren’t doing better? You are not alone! This is so very common, especially for those new to the business world. There really is only ONE ‘secret’ to success – and that is the willingness to do whatever it takes. I’ve put together a short check list of what is required to grow your business, make money and have fun. 1. DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS OR DO YOU HAVE A HOBBY?
I apologize for the strong language – not usually in my repertoire- but I really did want to get your attention. I am just so sick and tired of talking to people who don’t know how to make a decision! Aren’t you? So many people who call themselves entrepreneurs, who say they are serious about growing their business, who get presented with tremendous opportunities and…..say…….’let me think about that’.
So many entrepreneurs are confused about what they need to succeed. It’s a website. No, it’s a new package. No, it’s a book. Actually, to succeed in business and in life, you need critical thinking skills – a powerful mindset!
“No one can do ‘it’ better than me.” Have you ever said that to yourself? Wonder why your business is not growing and thriving? “It takes so much time to train someone”. Well, yes it does, LOL. And it’s worth it. Entrepreneurs are control freaks. I am – you are – we all are. And that’s just the plain truth. When you spend time, money, resources – along with blood, sweat and tears – growing your business, it’s tough to hand any part of it over to someone else.
Have you ever heard the expression ‘keep it simple, sweetie’? There is gold in them there words, LOL! Keep it simple has become my new mantra. I know that I have been guilty of complicating things and that’s a problem. It’s a problem when it comes to marketing, to networking, to helping clients, to presenting keynotes – it’s a problem, period. I’ve come to realize that when I have a problem – you probably do, too. That’s the reason for this article.
I trust that all of you have had the opportunity to read the phenomenal book “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway!” by Susan Jeffers. If not, then you need to get your hands on a copy today. It will become a live-saving reference as you grow your business. All of us have experienced fear at some point in our lives. What is interesting to me is the way we often confuse fear with the feelings of panic. They are very different.
“I’m scared to death!” Have you ever felt that way as you grow your business? I know that many of you look at the ‘successful’ entrepreneurs and tell yourselves that it’s easy for ‘them’. Are you kidding me? I do hear that a lot when people learn that I’ve taken my business from sub-zero to multiple 6 figures in less than 4 years – but easy? NO! It’s downright scary most of the time. I have come to like feeling scared because it means I am having a growth spurt. The good news is that I have learned it is all about our comfort zones. Here’s how it happens:
Have you ever returned from an event or a workshop feeling totally overwhelmed with all the information? When that happens then, typically, nothing happens. We are in a state of paralysis! I’ve developed a very simple process for getting things done! I’m a simple gal – and that’s what works for me. While it’s great to get all that fabulous, current, new knowledge – it’s not worth much if you don’t do anything with it. When we get back to ‘the jungle of life’, the workbooks and the handouts get put on a shelf and it then becomes ‘shelf help’. Not much good to you or to your business.
“Well, it all just looks so simple!” Don’t you just love it when people say that to you about something you’ve been working on for close to a year? I love that statement because it means that I have pulled it off – I have done a great job and people have had an incredible experience. Here, specifically, I’m talking about hosting 3-day LIVE events for a room full of your ideal prospects.
“It’s summertime – and the living is easy. Time to wind down for a few months since no one does any business in the summer.” – I hear that statement from so many women entrepreneurs – it makes me crazy! In the words of my coach, Suzanne Evans, ‘are you a hobby owner or are you a business owner?” Slow down? No! It’s time to keep going and to keep growing. But here’s the beautiful thing about that mindset – if, in fact, you are surrounded by competitors and other entrepreneurs who think this way, it’s time for YOU to get excited.
How many of you feel very alone in your business? Your family doesn’t have a clue what you do. Your friends think you’ve ‘lost it’. And there are days when you feel so isolated and lonely that you, too, wonder if it’s worth it. I know – I’ve been there! The first year I moved across the country and worked from a home-based office, I thought I would lose it. Being an entrepreneur can be a hard, lonely, journey – but we can change that. Everybody needs somebody, sometime. And when it comes to running your business, I would say you need somebody all the time. I know from experience.
“What is it you do?” This was a questio I asked repeatedly of the entrepreneurs at our Increase Sales and Profits workshop this week. “And why do I care?” Yes, I am that blunt when it comes to understanding the introduction being made by entrepreneurs at networking events, or workshops, or even when meeting at a coffee shop.
“I don’t know what I want.” So, how can I set any goals? I have been hearing that over and over and over as I speak at different events for women in business. In my signature keynote, I speak about ‘7 Steps to Growing Your Business By Getting Out of Your Own Way!” That content is only useful to those who DO know what they want and are stuck, in some ways. I have always been very good at setting goals. In this article, I will give you some guidelines that will help you get the process started. FIGURING OUT WHAT YOU WANT.
How many of you keep telling yourself that you have no money? That happens a lot at this time of year! One of the TV shows that I watch regularly is Dragon’s Den (the Canadian version of the U.S. show, Shark Tank). I enjoy it this year because one of the investors is David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber. I love that book!
What is the #1 question asked weekly by ‘Mr. Wonderful” – Kevin O’Leary? Who really chooses the winners of the Mirror Ball on Dancing with the Stars? I do watch TV on a regular basis and I’m not ashamed to admit it. These days, it seems like it’s a bad thing to watch TV – but that all depends on WHAT you are watching and why. It’s a weekly ritual for me to watch ‘Mr. Wonderful”, Kevin O’Leary, both on (Canada’s) Dragons’ Den and on (U.S.) Shark Tank. What I have learned from the dragons and the sharks is this: 1) Know your numbers.r